German president met with protests in Istanbul over support for Israel

By Muhammet Tarhan and Sumeyye Dilara Dincer

ISTANBUL/ German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier faced protests in Istanbul on Monday over Berlin's support for Israel in its ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Steinmeier, accompanied by Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, was met with chants from a group protesting Germany's stance during his visit to the Turkish metropolis' Sirkeci Station, where the first Turkish workers boarded trains for Germany in 1961.

They chanted, "Murderer Germany, get out of Türkiye" and "Murderer Germany, guilty of genocide."

Steinmeier arrived in Istanbul as the first stop of a three-day visit to Türkiye.

His plane landed at Istanbul Airport at 11.58 a.m. (0858GMT), where he was welcomed by Istanbul Governor Davut Gul, German Ambassador to Ankara Jurgen Schulz, Turkish Ambassador to Berlin Ahmet Basar Sen, as well as other officials.

During his visit, Steinmeier is scheduled to hold talks in Istanbul, Gaziantep, and the capital Ankara to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between Germany and Türkiye.

*Writing by Muhammed Yasin Gungor